Cal North Presidents Cup is offered in the U12 through U18 age groups as the option that is a competitive step below State Cup (which is part of US Youth Soccer’s National Championship Series.) Presidents Cup is recommended for a league’s second or third tier competitive teams that have demonstrated success in competitive tournaments or in the previous seasons’ Cups. For a team that has demonstrated a high-level of success in Association Cup in previous seasons or that competes successfully in the Silver Elite Division of CCSL and/or other comparable Cal North competitive playing leagues or in Cal North tournaments, the Cal North Presidents Cup is a recommended option. The U13 through U17 Cal North Presidents Cup is a qualifier for US Youth Soccer Region IV Presidents Cup competition. Region IV Champions in the U14 through U17 age groups will advance to US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup Nationals. In the event that Region IV and/or US Youth Soccer expand the range of age groups at the regional and national competitions, Cal North will follow suit to advance teams in those age groups. Teams should consider the option of playing in Presidents Cup if they are not quite ready for the State Cup competition, if they are seeking competition a step up from Association Cup or if they wish to enter a state level competition that will qualify champions to advance to a regional competition. U14 teams with players who participate in their high school winter soccer season may find the Presidents Cup to be the best option for their team because U14 Presidents Cup play begins after the March 15th CIF exclusionary period. Presidents Cup also creates the opportunity for U17 and U18 Competitive teams to enter the single year age groups that are not offered in Association Cup. A team that is the second or third tier competitive team from a club or league may find Presidents Cup rather than State Cup to be the cup of choice. Teams that qualified for the prior season’s Cal North State Cup quarterfinals are not eligible to enter Cal North Presidents Cup and we recommend they select State Cup as their Cal North Cup option. U12-U13 Presidents Cup is planned for March. U14-U18 Presidents Cup will be played in April and early May.